THE MOMENT OF TRUTH WILL COME
The Aurian, for about four hours, was flying directly towards Bhjierba at great speed, but it would arrive at its destination only at 10 or 11 in the morning, a time that for Al-Cid meant so many things.
His daring maneuver could have blown his cover if someone in Rabanastre would have noticed his absence, fortunately he had thought of a backup plan if such a thing ever happened.
Al-Cid had instructed one of his many assistants that if anyone ever came to ask for him, his assistants would have to answer that he had to leave to resolve some questions regarding Rozaria.
The Rozarian prince prayed inside himself, that no one would ever notice his absence, because between the round trip from Rabanastre and Bhujierba he would have lost about a day and could not foresee how the situation at the palace might have evolved he feared for the worst.
But as a prudent prince and a great strategist, Al-Cid had not transcended this possibility either, he had entrusted Malta with his most trusted assistant, not his favorite, entrusted her with making his feces in his absence and referring to every change that was occurred during his absence.
In Bhjierba, in the splendid palace of the Marquis Ondore, the end of the world was bursting, Amaya, after returning from Archades, had learned what had happened in his absence. Her reaction to this news had lost her coolness and her imperturbable calm, in favor of a very emotional and highly aggressive attitude.
Sebastian and Noel with difficulty managed to keep up with her, trying to make her not only calm, but also to induce her to reason. Amaya was very shaken and was so agitated that she often seemed not to be lucid or rational.
Her two bodyguards had never seen her in that state, except three years before when the Marquis Ondore told the truth about who she was. Amaya was very nervous, so much so that she vented her state of mind by destroying the objects that surrounded her, especially those of the Marquis.
Destroying objects, even if in a certain sense it was a childish way of doing, helped Amaya to strain herself, this could at least tire her out and cause her to calm her for a while, but the time in which she was quiet was very little.
- How long do you still want to go on Amaya? Do you want to tear the whole residence of the marquis to pieces? "Noel asked sternly, staring at Amaya as he destroyed his uncle's yet another piece of furniture.
"Yes, it wouldn't be a bad idea, if this will help me get better!" The princess exclaimed.
- Your uncle will be furious when he sees what you've done. At the very least it will come a blow! - Sebastian almost urged her commenting sarcastically and observing the disaster that Amaya had left in his uncle's room.
-SEBASTIAN DON'T MAKE IT! -Noel resumed his brother as he prepared himself to scold Amaya.
-And YOU AMAYA STOP TAKING YOU AS A GIRL, DO YOU REALLY MATTER WHAT YOU ARE DOING !? WHAT HAS YOUR SUITABLE ATTITUDE MADE?! -
- Who cares Noel! Amaya exclaimed, trying to break the last piece of furniture that was still intact in that room, using his powers.
-I don't care, if I'm acting like an immature ... let me vent in peace! Just let me behave like a 5 year old girl for once! Instead of always being on me! - the girl replied exasperatedly.
-But do you realize what you just said ?! You who are the noblest of all! "Noel was shocked when he heard Amaya say those sentences.
But to hear that sentence, Amaya stopped suddenly, turned to his guard and, taking a serious expression, said something to him that silenced Noel.
-Noel ... I'm tired of what I have to be or not to be. I'm tired of hearing myself say "what I am" or "what I should be". I have not even the faintest idea of what to do with my life. I know I should now think of Rasler and Noah. They should be my "priority" ... do you think I didn't think of it? In your opinion, why did Ondore bring the two princes to Rabanastre? ... Because he wanted to get me to follow him and consequently let me out into the open, going to Rabanastre I would lend myself to his game and that's not what I want! - The princess said, going mad.
- Although this is undoubtedly true, this does not justify your behavior and this mess you are creating. Since you came back from Archades, all you have to do is switch from one mood to another in a matter of minutes, without realizing anything concrete about Rasler and Noah! - the Noel shoot to give him reason was also his twin brother Sebastian.
-Lady, Amaya you know my brother is right. Don't take it badly, but being here to smash everything will certainly not solve your problems, and it certainly does not please both of us to see myself in this state. Please take more care of you.- Sebastian said softly.
Sebastian was a pretty cool guy compared to Noel who was more of a simple and easy-going guy. The knight had a fairly complicated character that for so many sides, reminded Amaya of the character of Basch's brother, Noah.
The guard urged Amaya not to let herself go to react and above all to take better care of herself. The princess felt lost, for a moment she seemed to no longer know what she wanted, she found the situation surreal, but she who was the one who always knew what to do this time was the exact opposite.
- What should I do second? the girl asked calmly, turning to the twins.
-First, recover and calm down! Second, look for a way to react to this situation ... you're not as fragile as you think. Did you vent first? Well no, it means that if you want you can pull out your emotions and react, so take this your anger and use it for something more productive. Try to take stock of the situation.- said the younger of the twins, Sebastian.
Amaya silently looked Sebastian in the eye, the huma had suddenly become serious, what his guard had suggested was a precious advice he willingly accepted.
Even in the past Amaya had found herself in her similar situation with Judge Gabranth, it was during the war, more precisely during the intense and exhausting training that the judge submitted to her, on several occasions Amaya found herself on the verge of giving up everything , but every time Gabranth always urged her not to give up.
Gabranth was not one who spared himself in his work, even if it was a simple training, he always gave his best. The judge against Amaya was very strict and strict, but above all right, his training was not a walk and they were so hard because they served to increase the combative potential of his student.
Gabranth had seen great qualities in her and wanted the girl to develop them to the fullest.
If Amaya ever wanted to be a judge one day, he should have been excellence, so as an assistant and Gabranth's right hand man, Amaya had to learn to cope with every situation and react as he did, he couldn't afford the luxury of to cry on.
- Get up and fight! This is not a workout, here you have to think that we are on the battlefield and if you are lying on the ground for you it is the end. So if you want to live in this world you must first of all learn to survive by clinging to whatever is beautiful or ugly. So ... get the sword and get up! Show me what you can do. Forward!-
Amaya remembered this speech well, Gabranth and he had done so many times, she had got into the habit of always repeating it.
If Noah would have seen him in that situation he certainly would not have forgiven him, he would have told her something unpleasant and equally pungent, all to push her to react.
This is because Amaya knew that although Noah had a bad temper and many times he had been a real asshole, he was certainly not an uncaring person; on the contrary, in that way he hid a person deeply hurt in his nicest affections.
Amaya was surprised how often she thought of Noah and all that the former judge had taught her. The girl had always been convinced that she hated and could not stand the judge for everything she had done to her, her sister and Basch, but things were very different from what she believed.
The young princess knew that Noah could hardly have forgiven him, yet despite this she had been quite upset when she learned of his death.
She had wanted to go in person to Archades, in secret, to see if what Al-Cid had told her was true. She had not liked what the princess had seen, indeed she had strongly indignantly.
Amaya had seen Basch wearing Judge Gabranth's armor and pretending to be him in front of people who were unaware of how things actually were. The young princess had to refrain from making a scene, but found the whole situation in bad taste.
If it were for her, Noah would never have allowed such a thing, Amaya knew him too well.
The young woman found the whole situation a huge mockery, not only for the memory of the true judge Gabranth but also for the person of Basch to accept such a condition, it means accepting not to exist and for what then ... peace. What peace?
A peace that was not a peace, but only a fragile appearance of a much broader general framework that she could well understand and glimpse.
Seeing such a situation, Amaya decided to leave Archades for how things had turned out for her, it was absolutely not a good idea to stay. Because he knew well what could have happened if she had stayed there.
He would have done nothing but throw the anger he felt towards the only person from whom he would never have wanted to be seen in that state. For her, Basch, he had to remain the Basch she remembered and not wear his brother's clothes ... all this would only confuse her further.
Amaya well knew that no one could ever replace Noah as a judge, not even his brother. According to Amaya, Basch was too soft to play the role of a judge or so she believed.
The girl knew very well how a Magister Judge must have been, above all he knew the requisites that were required to be part of it. It was Noah himself who taught her all this with the utmost severity and moral rigor he was capable of.
And now Basch could boast the title of judge, without having the slightest idea or even knowledge of his brother's role, of his obligations and limitations.
Basch knew nothing about the politics and laws that governed the Archadian empire. "The law above all". This was the motto of Archadian politics. Would Basch ever live up to his brother as a judge?
For Amaya he was no, Basch was a good soldier, a very good general and a very bad man, but a very bad politician. While Noah was not only an excellent soldier, strategist but also a skilled manipulator and an unparalleled judge, so much so that he was the head of the ninth division, the most important of all.
For a single moment Amaya thought of Noah, of all he had taught her and of what had been for her, not just a simple mentor but also a point of reference.
She remained silent while Sebastin and his brother looked at her expecting some reaction from her, they looked at her again looking at her more carefully this time.
The Dalmatian woman had resumed her usual demeanor that always made her stand out, then turned her head in the direction of Sebastian and her twin brother and thanked them for the valuable advice they had advised her.
-You're right, Sebastian. I owe you a lot, without you I would feel lost.
-Happy to know that you were shooting, you started to miss us ...- Sebastian commented sarcastically, while his brother took it again.
- Sebastian when will you plant it? - Noel blurted quite annoyed by the continuous jokes of dubious taste of his brother.
In front of that nice curtain at Amaya she hinted at a smile, who knows for what reason every time the girl saw the twins, Noel and Sebastian, arguing and throwing herself slanting made her smile and return her good mood.
Both twins knew a lot about this peculiarity of Amaya and more than a few times they resorted to this trick to bring back their good mood.
Amaya was very close to both twins and loved them each in her own way. Of Noel, Amaya loved his long hair gathered in a tail, the bristly beard that framed his face, gave Noel not only a man's lived-in look but seemed to have something wild that went to create a contrast with the wonderful eyes that the man found himself again.
Noel and Sebastian could boast of having unparalleled beauty, regular and at the same time delicate features, the eyes, in particular they had a very particular cut, they were small and sunken a little to the down.
The color of the eyes of both twins was of a beautiful blue that was so reminiscent of the color of ice, a color so clear and limpid that it struck anyone who looks at them. What gave these eyes even more charm was the intensity of the gaze of both twins, an intense, determined and mysterious look.
Sebastian was identical to Noel, but compared to his brother, he had a nicer look, short hair and no beard.
Even in the ways the twins stood out, Sebastian was a selfish and provocative person, while Noel was not only quite disinterested but also very selfless.
However different and opposite, the two brothers shared the same goal, to serve and protect Amaya, to whom they had sworn absolute loyalty and devotion.
Finally the time had come to take control of the situation of not wasting any more time, Amaya had to decide right away what to do, she couldn't do otherwise.
When her two bodyguards asked her if she had any ideas, the young huma expressed her will.
-What did you decide to do your thanks? "Noel asked.
"Noel was thinking of sending a message to Ondore but I have doubts ..." the girl pointed out as she looked very worried on her face.
-Why don't you also contact Al-Cid, he would answer you while warning Ondore I think it's a bad idea, look at his behavior.- Sebastian rightly expressed his thought with which both Amaya and Noel agreed.
-You are right, Sebastian, if I make such an error Ondore could show my letter to Ashe, as proof of my presence here in Bhujierba. They care that Ashe could send that judge back here ... Instead with Al-Cid it would be different. - Amaya's face darkened, the very idea of finding herself in a situation where she didn't want to be in the world, but all of that situation would not have happened if he had instead contacted the Rozaran prince.
The girl was more than sure that the Rozarian prince would have been without a shadow of doubt on his side.
Amaya seemed to have recovered from the bad mood that had characterized her a moment before, now she was more calm and mistress not only of herself but also of her powers.
On the advice of her two guards she had taken stock of the situation and decided what her next move would be. The girl had finally decided, what would be her move when without warning, a soldier of the marquis Ondore's guard decided to disturb Amaya, warning her of the surprise visit of the Prince of House Margrace who urgently asked to receive her.
- Your Highness, Prince Al-Cid asks to see you urgently. He is very agitated at only saying that you would understand.
The guard reported the message, but was afraid of expecting an outburst from Ondore's niece.
In fact, the soldier was afraid to look into the eyes of the young Dalmasca, who had darkened from a serene moment. The two Landisians who were behind Amaya had the same expression as their lady, to learn that Al-Cid was there meant only two things.
That Ashe and his group had known about the two principles or that Al-Cid had been discovered in covering Amaya. In both cases, according to Amaya, the situation was decidedly bad.
The girl got so angry that those present were afraid that the young woman could once again release her power at the mercy of her state of mind. Noel and Sebastian tried to avert any possible manifestation of their lady's power, trying to keep the girl quiet.
-This can only mean two things! - Amaya growled almost choked that she had to refrain from letting herself go to unleash her anger.
- Lady Amaya calm down, nothing has happened yet. First make sure what Al-Cid has to tell you and then we'll decide again what to do. "Said Noel in a calm voice trying to keep control of the situation and not to alter the dalmasca.
Even Sebastian was of the same opinion as his brother. -Amaya instead of arabbiarti and lose more time with useless scripts, because we do not think to talk to Al-Cid if he came so far with such urgency, he will want to tell us important news why not listen to him ? -
- Your Excellency always say that Al-Cid is one of those people you can always rely on. Who better than he could give you the best suggestions or make you notice something that escapes you? -
-It's true ... I was already thinking about it! Al-Cid is the best ally I can count on, "Amaya said, hinting at a smile as she seemed to regain a more optimistic attitude and self-control.
